KARACHI: The induction ceremony of the state of the art corvette, Pakistan Navy Ship Tabuk, was held at the Pakistan Navy Dockyard here on Thursday.

Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Amjad Khan Niazi, who was chief guest at the ceremony, termed the induction of PNS Tabuk as an important milestone for Pakistan Navy for enhancing its operational capabilities.

“The new addition will contribute to promoting a safe and secure maritime environment in the region,” he said, while highlighting the importance of the evolving geostrategic environment in the region and the need for a potent naval force to counter the increasing maritime challenges.

Highlighting the plight of Kashmiris in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the chief guest paid tribute to their exemplary struggle for self-determination against Indian oppression.

The contracts for the two Yarmook-class corvettes with Romanian M/s Damen Shipyards were given by the Pakistan Navy in 2017. The first ship of this class, PNS Yarmook was inducted in July this year while the second ship PNS Tabuk has also been inducted into the fleet.

Later, the naval chief urged the officers and men of PNS Tabuk to make full use of the combat potential of this modern warship in guarding maritime interests of the motherland.

He also acknowledged Damen Shipyards for their cooperation and delivering high-quality platforms to Pakistan Navy. The induction ceremony was also attended by senior naval officers.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2020